Combination of wallboard moldings and lavatory fixtures



May 4, 1954 F. HOBBS 2,577,268

COMBINATION OF WALLBOARD MOLDINGS AND LAVATORY FIXTURES Filed Oct. 27, 1947 I. ii

I I I W will ET FRANK HOBBS .mmmor M. Bu it v/ altomegs Patented May 4, 1954 COMBINATION OF WALLBOARD MOLDIN GS AND LAVATORY FIXTURES Frank Hobbs, Seattle, Wash, assignor to Research Holdings, Inc., Seattle, Wash.

Application October 27, 1947, Serial No. 782,295

This invention relates to improvements in combination of a wallboard molding and a lavatory fixture and, more particularly, to molding elements for use under varying conditions of heat and cold between normally non-movable wallboards and the edges of expansible contractible members, such as bathtubs, to seal the line of abutment in a watertight and sanitary manner.

During recent years the application of prefinished, baked, plastic enamel wallboards to old and new walls, in bathrooms and kitchens, has become a common method of obtaining smooth, attractive and sanitary wall surfaces, in harmony with the standards of modern living. Ordinarily, such wallboards are formed of a variety of sheet stock, usually of a woody origin, between and A" in thickness, which may be plywood,

hardboard or medium-density board, having a coefiicient of expansion materially different from that of the tub, sink, or the like. Such boards have a prefinished surface of hard baked, plastic enamel, produced under controlled conditions to give them a glossy and highly reflective surface. This mirror-like surface reflects the contour of the normal plastered wall. It is most important that such boards be applied so that they are disposed in an absolutely flat plane, since the slightest wave is magnified when the board is viewed at slight angles, due to distortion of the reflections caused by the waves. that when such a board is applied to a wall alongside of or over a member that is expansible and contractible due to varying conditions of heat, it must be attached to the wall independent of the adjacent expansible-contractible member With a joint between the member and the wallboard that is closed in a watertight and sanitary manner, yet capable of permitting slight movement of the expansible-contractible member relative to the wallboard.

- An excellent example of the application of this invention is found in its use in connection with wallboard abutting bathtubs. Tubs are ordinarily formed of cast iron or sheet steel and, consequently, are subject to movement by expansion and contraction as their temperature varies, both from fluctuations in the heat of the contents, as well as from fluctuations in the heat of the bathroom. Because of the expansion of the bathtub, theapplication of wallboard to the walls surrounding the tub has presented many difiiculties. One such problem arises where it is attempted to pass the wallboard down behind the tub edge. This mode is impractical because splashed water, as well as dust and dirt, can

This means 1 Claim. (01. 72 0.5)

enter and accumulate in the downwardly directed crack that is also often not straight and uniform. This problem is particularly aggravated by the common use of shower heads in recessed bathtubs which throw great amounts of water on the Walls and wall-tub joints.

Since the wallboard can be edged to a straight line or a line that closely follows the contours of the tub edge, it has been found preferable to apply the wallboard to the walls so that it overlaps or overhangs the roll of the tub edge. Since much of the expansion of a tub is upward, unless expansion space is left between the tub and the bottom edge of the wallboard, pressure will be applied to the wallboard and cause it to buckle or to shove up out of position. Neither is satisfactory. It can readily be seen that is is most important that a suitable sealing molding be positioned between the tub and wallboard and that proper provision is thus made for expansion.

It is a prime objectof this invention, therefore, to provide a molding that will adequately seal joints between expansible-contractible members and wallboards and which will function without permitting unsightly gaps and crevasses to occur because of such expansion and contraction. Y 7

Another object has. been the provision, in a molding as mentioned above, of a space for caulking material, and of means for. retaining elastic and adhesive caulking in operating position to insure a watertight, sanitary joint, providing a concealed joining that is not unsightly and one that will not be affected by the Wear or normal use or by oxidation.

Still another object of this invention resides in providing, in a molding for the use described, of flexibility that will allow for movement of associated objects without a consequent transfer of pressure to an adjacent trimmed wallboard.

One other object of the invention relates to the provision of a molding to meet the foregoing problems and accomplish the above stated objects and which is simple to form at high speed with uncomplicated tools and may be used effectively with maximum results by relatively unskilled mechanics in making a wallboard installation.

The foregoing objects, and others ancillary thereto I prefer to accomplish as follows:

According to a preferred embodiment of my invention, I dispose in a space between a wallboard and an expansible-contractible member such as a bath-tub, a flexible molding and elastic caulking to seal the joint and also to provide an in an overhanging disposition and entraps a portion, if not all, of the bead of mastic that lies in the corner at the bottom of the Wall.

With this arrangement, there is then elastic material behind tongue 28 and in groove 26 and behind wall 20, all of which functions to prevent the entrance of water. When the tub expands, as when hot water is run into it, the pressure of the expanding tub is against tongue 28 which moves upward and tends to compress ribbon 42, without exerting pressure on the wall panel itself. Such movement of the tongue and web 22 also tends to stretch the bead 46 that lies under the web, but without breaking the same loose from the tub or wall. As the tub contracts, when it cools, the resiliency of the mastic ribbons and beads, and of the molding itself, insures the return of the molding downwardly and the maintenance of the original tightly sealed joint.

I have found that by forming the molding so that the included angle of joinder between the wall 20 and web 22 is slightly greater than 90, I am able to insure a slight downward urgence to the tongue 28 which materially enhances its ability to come and go with the expansion and contraction of the tub. Such an angle need only be a matter of two to six degrees to provide the desirable hinging action between first wall 20 and web 22.

The assembly in the lower inside orner where the panels and I2 meet the tub is easily accomplished with my molding by cutting it as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The front wall 24 and facing 29 is cut away for a short distance back from the molding end leaving the zig-zag lip 60 which cooperates with the lower end of molding M in the manner shown in Fig. 4. l'hat portion of wall 22 that is cut away permits the remainder of the wall and web 22 to slip into a groove of corner molding Hi, so that its exposed dovetail shaped portion overlaps the lip 69, as well as the edges 16 of panels i0 and I2.

Molding 20 may extend outwardly beyond the tub edge and serve as a horizontal divider between two panels, with the lowermost panel being slipped under tongue 28, in which case the end of molding 20 may meet in a neat and unprojecting manner with upright edges as l8, or other moldings commonly used.

While I have shown and described particular embodiments of my invention, it will occur to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention, and I therefore aim in the appended claim to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

The combination of a lavatory fixture, a thin stiff sheet of wall covering material positioned above and spaced from the top rear surface of said fixture, and a molding closing the space between the bottom of said sheet and said top rear surface of said fixture, said molding comprising a single elongated strip of material of thin, resilient metal forming a first vertical wall portion positioned at the back of said sheet, and having a web portion transversely extending forward from the lower edge of said first vertical wall portion under the lower edge of said sheet disposed at slightly over a right angle with said first vertical wall portion, and thence descending to form a tongue portion extending vertically downward from the forward edge of said web and folded back on itself and extending upward in abutting relation to the downward extension and continuing upward from the outer upper end of said tongue portion to form a second vertical wall portion extending above said web portion, said first and second wall portions and said web portion defining a channel in which the lower edge of said sheet is positioned with said first and second vertical wall portions abutting rear and front faces respectively of the same, the lower surface of said tongue portion at the point where it is folded back on itself pressing against said top rear surface of said fixture, and said second wall portion being shorter than said first wall portion.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,694,673 Thomas 1- Dec. 11, 1928 1,887,663 Reed, Jr. Nov. 15, 1932 1,993,792 Manske et al. Mar. 12, 1935 2,143,034 Sakier Jan. 10, 1939 2,350,790 McCarthy June 6, 1944 OTHER REFERENCES Aluminum Moldings, Received in Patent Office Feb. 6, 1930. Published by Aluminum Co. of America. D821, on page 17, only figure necessary. 

